[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 247 (Thursday, December 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 66686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-28028]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No. ED-2018-ICCD-0107]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; The Department of Education Accrediting Agency, Foreign 
Medical and Foreign Veterinarian Program Comparability Database 
Approval

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), Department of 
Education (ED).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is 
proposing a revision of an existing information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
January 28, 2019.

ADDRESSES: To access and review all the documents related to the 
information collection listed in this notice, please use http://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED-2018-ICCD-
0107. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted 
electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal 
mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Please note that comments 
submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period 
will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments 
submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the 
Director of the Information Collection Clearance Division, U.S. 
Department of Education, 550 12th Street SW, PCP, Room 9086, 
Washington, DC 20202-0023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to 
collection activities, please contact Herman Bounds, 202-453-6128.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education (ED), in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with 
an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing 
collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact 
of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's 
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's 
information collection requirements and provide the requested data in 
the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The 
Department of Education is especially interested in public comment 
addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to 
the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be 
processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden 
accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the 
Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, 
including through the use of information technology. Please note that 
written comments received in response to this notice will be considered 
public records.
    Title of Collection: The Department of Education Accrediting 
Agency, Foreign Medical and Foreign Veterinarian Program Comparability 
Database Approval.
    OMB Control Number: 1840-0788.
    Type of Review: A revision of an existing information collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Private Sector.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 94.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 3,988.
    Abstract: The United States Secretary of Education (Secretary) is 
required by law to publish a list of nationally-recognized accrediting 
agencies that have been determined to be reliable authorities regarding 
the quality of education or training offered by the institutions or 
programs they accredit. In determining whether a specific agency should 
be recognized, the Secretary evaluates the submission for compliance 
with the Criteria for Recognition contained in regulations. The 
collection of information is necessary for the Secretary to evaluate 
and monitor the continued compliance with the criteria during any 
period of recognition granted. This collection is submitted due to the 
approaching end of the 3 year approval period. There is a change in 
burden hours for the following reasons. The number of accrediting 
agencies/organizations submitting documentation increased. Two 
additional accrediting agencies submitted initial petitions for 
recognition and supporting documentation, one additional foreign 
veterinary accrediting agency and two additional accrediting 
organizations communicated their intent to submit an initial 
application. Department staff consulted with seven accrediting agencies 
and organizations and determined that a new evaluation of burden hours 
was necessary.

    Dated: December 20, 2018.
Kate Mullan,
Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Office of 
the Chief Privacy Officer, Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2018-28028 Filed 12-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P